Utah State Extension in Morgan County: Making an Impact in Schools

Milan Mechan is a 27-year veteran of the elementary school classroom and a third generation 4-H'er. He says Extension has been invaluable, providing educational programs concerning water conservation and agriculture for use in the classroom. The all-day Agricultural Day, as part of "Ag in the Classroom," and the local Mountain Man Day have been two of his students' favorites.

"There is always a tremendous amount of community support for Extension and 4-H," Mechan said.

The Ag Day provides 160 students with 12 stations that focus not just on production, but the science of water and soils.

Ralph Pomeroy, principal of Morgan Elementary, echoed Mechan's support. "We have a great partnership with the schools, community and newspaper in supporting Extension's 'Character Counts' program through grade school, junior high and high school for the last five years."

We have monthly assemblies that focus on a different character trait each time, Pomeroy says. Each month the high school honors both a student and someone from the community, and the newspaper helps out by featuring the winners. Extension has been one of the best resources for bringing character development programs to our schools, he added. It helps build community and improve relationships among the students.

The students like it so much that they have formed a drama club to put on character education plays.

To find out more about Morgan County, click here. For more about Extension in other counties take the Extension tour of Utah.